Prepayment attachment.



No. 7l2,004. Patented Oct. 28, |902.

E. A. REEVES.

PREPAYMENT ATTACHMENT.

(Application led Dec. 16, 1901.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

Witnesses. I nventor.

d? v c I 4 l Wwf/w ,f E

Attorney.

"NIL 7|2,0D4. A VPatented Oct. 28', |902.

E. A. REEVES.

PREPAYMENT ATTAIHMENT.

(Applieazion med Dee. ie, 1991.) (N o M u d el.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2. I

Eli-'F- Witnesses:

www

No. 7|2,004. Patented Dot. 28, |902.v

E. A. REEVES.

PREPAYMENT ATTACHMENT.

(Application filed Dec. 16, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Tm-35S.

36 Witnesses I 4 l r l fr Attorney.

l"rn: Norms PETERS col, PNOTLLUTHQ.. WASHINGTON. u. cv

No. 7|2,004. Patented Oct. 28, |902.

E. A. REEVES.

PREPAYMENT ATTACHMENT.

(Application filed Dec. 16, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet '4.

Inventor.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN A. REEVES, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIRD TO VILLIAM REEVES, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

VPREPAYM ENTYATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,004, dated October 28, 1902.

Application filed December 16,1901. Serial No. 86,109. (No model.)

To all whom, it wtay concern: Y

Be it known that I, EDWIN A. REEVES, a

- citizen of the United States, residing at New coin therein the inlet-valve or other like de# vice is operated in one direction.

It is the object of my invention, among other things, to provide a device of this char-v acter which can be readily attached to any ordinary meter and in which the inlet-valve can be opened only through a coin connection, to provide means whereby the last few feet of gas to pass through the meter will be greatly diminished in volume, and thereby a much reduced flame will result and serve as a warning as to the condition of the meter, y

and, further, to construct the device of the vfewest possible parts so designed as to be readily constructed and manufactured at the minimum cost. y

To these and other ends my invention consists in the prepayment attachment having certain details of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

As illustrated and described herein, the device is attached to a gas-meter; but of course I do not limit myself thereto, as the mechanism is equally applicable to any other class of devices havi. 3* a prepayment mechanism and in which a valve is automatically closed by a substance passing through the meter, and my invention does not relate to the recording mechanism which registers the amount of gas or fluid which passes through the meter, which mechanism is one of the essentialparts of every meter.

In` the operation of my invention a coin isl placed within a rotatably-mounted coin-carrier and operates a lever which is thrown outwardly and engages a projecting part carrying a pawl, and the connection between the coin and valve mechanism is completed through a train of gears. As the coin-carrier is rotated the `valve-controlling mechanism is also rotated through the train of gears, and the inlet-valve is opened a predetermined distance, which is regulated by the amount of rotation that is imparted to the train mechanism. This valve is automatically closed by a connection between the valve-closing mech anism and the two-foot shaft, which is in every gas-meter, and so connected therewith that a predetermined number of revolutions of the two-foot shaft will automatically return the valve to its original position, thus closing the gas-inlet and shutting od the supply Of gas. The valve mechanism is so designed, however, that by means of a closable aperture therethrough a small amount of gas is permitted to pass through the valve for a long time after the valve itself has closed, which supply is sufficient to keep the lights burning, though very dim, and towarn the consumer that the meter has practically run down and another coin is required.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals of reference designate like parts in the several figures, Figure lis a plan View of the attic of a meter with my improved mechanism attached thereto, the shell of said meter being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the Valve-operating mechanism:

and its connection withthe two-foot shaft, taken upon line A B of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the valve-operating mechanism, taken upon line A B of Fig. 2. Fig. Lt is a plan view of ythe epicyclic train. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the valve-disk and the valve rocklever. I Fig. 6 is an interior View ofthe.

l0 is a rear View of the coin drum and carrier.

Fig. 1l is a sectional view thereof upon line A B of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a detailed view of the coin-carrier with the levers in the relative positions occupied bythem when the Fig. 8 is a front View of the upper IOO said carrier is empty. Fig. 13 is a similar view with the levers in the relative positions occupied by them when the carrier is loaded, and Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the valvecase and valve upon line C D of Fig. 1.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates the body of the meter; 2, the levers, which form part of every gas-meter and require no further description here; 3, the two-foot shaft, which is also common to all meters and is shown herein as being supported by the standards 5 and 16, which are both fastened to the attic-floor 7, and 4 is the recording mechanism. The two-foot shaft 3 is rotated from the levers 2 and makes one complete revolution upon the consumption of two feet of gas and operates the recording mechanism 4, which registers the amount of gas consumed by means of the usual indicator-dials upon the face of the meter.

Attached to the floor 7 are the two vertical plates G 6, and journaled in these plates is the spindle 8, having fixed thereon a gear 9, and adjacent thereto and loosely mounted upon said spindle is a gear 10 of the same diameter and pitch as the gear 9. Upon the opposite side of the gear 9 from that of the gear 10 and loosely mounted upon the spindle 8 is the gear 11, having formed integral therewith the valve-disk 12, provided with a single tooth 12a thereon, and rotatably mounted upon the pintles 13, fixed within the said gear 11, is the epicycloidal train, comprising the pinions 14 and 14, which mesh into each other, and the pinion 14, having engagement also with the gear 9, and the pinion 14, having engagement with the gear 10.

The bracket 15 is fastened to one of the plates 6, and journaled therein at one end and to the standard 16 at the other end is the shaft 17, carryinga worm-wheel 18 between the ears of the bracket 15, which engages with the teeth of the gear 10, and fixed near the opposite end of said shaft is the gear 19, the teeth of which engage the teeth of the wormwheel 20, fixed upon the shaft 3 between the arms of the yoke end of the standard 16.

The valve-casing 21 can be made of any desired form, but as herein shown consists of a rectangular box having means connected therewith whereby the inlet-pipe from the gas-main can be connected thereto at one end and the pipe into the meter be connected at the other end. Within the interior of this casing is mounted the valve itself, which comprises a valve-disk 22, having, preferably, a leather orothcr yielding facing 23 and through the centerof which isa tube 24, closed midway of' its length by a wall 25 and having a slot 26 through one side thereof, and surrounding the tube 24 is the spring-plate 27, which normally holds the valve-disk against that end of the tube adjacent to the Valve-seat. Journaled in said casing and the plates 6 6 is the valve-shaft 28, and fixed thereon Within the said valve-casing is a valve-lever 29, which is pivotally connected at one end to the tube 24. The shaft 30 is also journaled in the plates 6 and has fixed thereon the rock-lever 31, having a single notch therein in its lower end corresponding in size and shape and adapted to be engaged by the tooth 12 upon the disk 12, and the rock-arm 32, having a laterally-projecting pin 33 at its outer end, which enters a slot in the rock-arm 34, fixed to the valve-shaft 28.

As the spindle 3 is rotated, by means hereinafter to be described, in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 3 the gear 9 thereon is rotated and causes the gear ll and valvedisk 12 to rotatein the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 5 through the pinion 14, and the engagement of the tooth l2 with the notch in the rock-lever 3l rocks the shaft 30, rock-arm 32, rock-arm 34 through the pin 33 and the valve-shaft 28, and through the lever 29 the valve 22 is drawn off its seat, and the gas which enters the said valve-chamber from the main gas-supply in the direction of the arrow shown therein passes through the valve down through the outlet into the meter. This valve is automatically closed by the following operation:

As the two-foot shaft 3 is rotated the shaft 17 is also rotated through the worm 2O and worm-gear 19 and the gear 10 through the worm-gear 18 and the valve-disk 12 through the pinion 14". The valve-disk 12 is thus caused to rotate in the reverse direction than when being rotated from the spindleS and in its rotation by engaging the notch in the rocklever 31 returns the said` lever to its original position, and the Valve-disk 22 is forced and held upon its seat through the rock-shaft 30 andthe valve-shaft 28 and valve-lever 29. It is apparent that any movement of the rocklever 31 in either direction will open or close the Valve 22, according to the direction of its movement, and to open the valve the lever is rocked by means of coin mechanism hereinafter to be described and is closed automatically by mechanism operated by the passage of gas through the meter. The action of the valve-lever 29 is so arranged that after the valve-disk 22 is upon its seat there is still some movement in the said lever, which pushes the tube 24 through the valve-disk against the spring-fingers 27 until the slot 26 is entirely covered by the valvefdisk. `By this construction the forcing of' the valvedisk against its seat does not entirely shut off the gas-supply, for a small quantity still continues to pass through the slot 26 and is suicient to furnish enough gas to keep the burners lighted for a long time with a Very much diminished llame; but, however, this supply is cut off when the whole length of the slot 26 has been pushed inside of the valve-disk above described.

I will now describe the coin mechanism which is contained within the coin-case 35, attached to the front of the meterin any convenient or well-known manner.

The carrier-drum 36 is constructed with a IIO solid face, through the front of which is a radial coin-slot 40 and an integral rearwardlyprojecting iiange 37, which is annular in form and slotted near its bottom end to.l form an open throat 38. This drum is inserted through the front of the case 35 and is held rigidly therein by means of a plurality of bayonetjoints 39. Rotatably mounted within this drum is'the coin-carrier, which is constructed with acircular disk 41, having an outside diameter of the same size as the interior diameter of the flange 37 a stud 42 thereon, which passes through the hub of the drum 36 and has a knurled finger-button 43 fixed thereon, whereby the same may be rotated, said button havinga radial slot therethrough of the same width as the slot 40; a stop 44; a body portion 45, havinga chamber 7l therein of substantially the same width as the radial slot 40; a lever 46, pivotally connected with the body 45; a spring-lever 47, also pivotally secured to the body 4 5 and having a laterally-projecting arm 4S integral therewith and passing through an opening 49 through the body 45; a coil-spring 50, connected at one end with the arm 48 and at the other end to a fixed part; a link 51, joining the said levers 46 and 47, and a plate 52, fixed to the said carrier-body and so arranged as to preventlateral displacement of the lever 46.

Fixed rigidly Within the coin-case 35 is a vertical plate 53, and fixed within said plateand projecting upon either side thereof is the stud 54, and mounted upon the said stud, upon the front side of the said plate, is a graduated plate 55, having an integral radial lug 60 projecting from the periphery thereof, and upon the hub of said plate is a paWl-plate 5G, which is circular in form and of substantially the same diameter as the plate 55, but having a radial paWl-arm 56ad upon one side thereof car` rying a pawl 57, which is held by the spring said recess is a screw 62, which is threadedy into the paWl-plate 56 and secures both of the said plates rigidly together. These plates are adjusted circumferentially inrelation to each other by means of the screw 62 and the slot 61, and the graduations upon the plate 59,y

Fig. 9, are brought into register with the single graduation upon the lug 56ZL to adjust the' plates at predetermined places.

Pivotally connected to the plate 53 above the plate 55 is a vstop-leverv 63, which in its l53 is the spindle 67, having a gear 68 fixed thereon 'which meshes into the pinion 69, integral with the ratchet-disk 59, and the spindie 67 is connectedv with the spindle S by the coupling 70. y t

When the coin-carrier is unloaded-that is, when the chamberthereof is emptyandno coin has been placed therein-the then position of the levers is shown in Fig. 12, and the forward end 72 of the lever 46 projects over the periphery of the graduated plate 55 and is rotatable in the same circular path Vas that of the lug 60 and in which position it Will pass beneath the lever 63. To operate the coin mechanism, a coin is passed through the coin-slot 40 into the chamber 71 of the coincarrier and while entering said chamber engages the arm 4S of the lever 47 and depresses the same against the pull of the spring 50 and by means of the link 51 throws the lever 46 from the position shown in Fig. 12

to that shown in'Fig. 13. Theend 72 of thel lever 46 has now been moved out of the path of the lug 60 and into the path of the lug 73 upon the pawl-arm 56, and the spring-pressed lever 63 is thrown upwardly by the said coinlever until it has passed under'the end thereof, when it is returned to its original position by` the spring 65. The coin-carrier is now rotated by grasping the button 43 between the fingers and turning the same toward the right'V or in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 8, and when Athe end 72 of the lever v46 engages the lug 73 the connection between the coin and valve mechanism is complete and the graduated plate V55, ratchet-plate 56, andr ratchet-disk 59 are rotated therewith by means of the pawl57, which engages the teethof said ratchet-disk, and all of these parts vnow'rotate together as a unit until the said coin-carrier has been turned substantiallygone-half of a revolutiomwhen the chamber 71 therein l registers with the open throat 38 of the flange 37, and the coin is released and drops from the said coin-carrier into theboxor drawer 74. As the chamber registers with the slot 38 the stop 4`4 engages the st0p-pins'7 5, fixed in the flange 37 and projectinginto the interiorth'ereof, which engagement prevents fur` ther rotation of the said coin-carrier in the j same direction, and at substantially the same in IFig. l2 by meansfof the spring,5Ovand" the end 72 thereof is moved out of the path of the lug73 into the path of the lug"60,

and when the carrier is being returned to its original nprightposition the said end 72 en-Y gages the said lug 60`and returns they plate 55 and pawl-plate 56 to jtheir original posi-y tions, the pawl 57 dragging over the teeth of the ratchet-disk 59 Withoutimparting moye-A lnent thereto, r

When the chamber 'in'. the coin-carrier is brought into register lWith theslot 40, the

IIO

body Lt5 of the coin-carrier engages the pin 75 and prevents further rotation of the said coin-carrier in one direction, and at the same time the lug GO engages the stop-pin 76, xed within the plate 53, and prevents further rotation of the graduated plate 55. After the coin is placed within the coin-carrier and given a partial rotation the coin-carrier cannot be returned to a position wherein it will register with the coin-slot 40 until after the chamber 7l has been emptied and the coin deposited in the boX or tray 74, because the end '72 of the lever 4G now movable onlyin the path of the lug 73 and the end of the lever (J3, and if it is attempted to return the coin-carrier without first releasing the coin the end 72 of the lever engages the end of the lever G3 and prevents the return of the coin-carrier to its original position in register with the coin-slot; but as soon as the coin is released the lever is brought into the path of the lug GO and passes beneath the end of the lever (53. The amount of rotation that can be imparted to the ratchet-disk 59 can be Varied, so that a greater or less number' of operations of the coin-carrier will be necessary to impart a complete revolution thereto, and this adjustment is obtained through the adjustable connection between the pla-tes 55 and 56. If it is desired to impart the maXimum rotation to the ratchetdisk, the space between the lugs 60 and 73 should be as small as possible, and vice versa for the minimum rotation. This can be readily understood from the fact that the travel of the lever 4G between the lugs UO and 73 is lost motion and that by bringing the lug 3 nearer the lug GO there is less lost motion, and consequently the engagement of the pawl with the ratchet-disk 59 will be longer when the open space is shorter than when it is of greater length, and for convenience and accuracy in adjustment and to accommodate the machine for various priced gases or fluids the plate 55 is graduated, as shown in Fig. 9.

The shaft 67 being connected with the spindle S, the motion imparted to the ratchet-disk 59 is imparted to the spindle 8 through the gear GS and pinion 69, and the valve mechanism is operated from the spindle 8, as heretofore described.

I have provided means in my invention for indicating the quantity of gas that has already been paid for and not consumed, so that the consumer can tell by a glance at his meter just how much gas there is still due him. These dials I have placed for convenience in the front of the coin-case 35 and are designated by the numerals 78, and the mechanism for operating the dial-pointers consists of a pinion 80, which meshes into the gear ll and fixed upon a spindle Sl, which is connected by the coupling Se with the spindle S2, journaled in plates S3, fixed within the coin-case 35, and upon said spindle 82, bc-

tween the said plates, is iixeda pinion 85, meshing into a gear 8G, fixed on a spindle S7, rotatably mounted in the said plates S3, and upon the forward end of the spindles S2 and 87 are the pointers 8S of the usual construction.

As the gear ll is rotated through the coin mechanism heretofore described the spindle S2 is rotated through the gear S0 and the pointer 8S is rotated, and the dials are so graduated that when the coin is released from the coin-carrier the pointer will indicate the full amount of gas that has been paid for, and while the gas is being consumed the gear l1 and spindle 82 are rotated in the opposite direction and the pointers SS are returned to zero.

The gear 8G is five times the diameter of the pinion S5 and makes one revolution to tive ot the pinion and registers the thousands, while the indicator upon the spindle 82 registers the hundred feet.

To prevent an unlimited number of coins being inserted in the machine and beyond the capacity of the parts, I have provided astoplever 89, which is pivotallysecured to a downwardly-projecting lug 90 upon the forward plate 83, which lever is provided with a hook 91 upon one end and the other end of which is within the path of a pin 92, fixed Within the gear 86. This lever is normally held out of engagement with the coincarrier against the pin 93 bya spring 9i; but when the maxi mum number of coins have been inserted within the carrier and the maximum amount of gas that can be paid for in advance before any consumption takes place the gear 86 has been carried into such a position that the pin 92 therein engages the end of the lever S9 and throws the hook 91 therein through a hole 96 in the iiange 3.7 into the path of the coin-car rier and prevents the operation of the said carrier until some gas has been consumed and the pin 92 disengaged from the said lever, when the same will be moved out of the path of the coin-carrier by the action of the spring 94E.

There are many minor changes and alterations that can be made Within my invention, and I would therefore haveit understood that I do not limit myself to the exact description herein shown and described, but claim all that falls fairly within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rotary coin-holder having a radial coin-chamber therein upon one side of the axis thereof; of a valve; a rotary plate; a radially-shiftable connection between said coin-carrier and said rotary plate; a pawl-plate connected with said rotary plate so as to be movable therewith as a unit; a ratchet-disk; a pawl connection between said pawl-plate and said ratchet-disk; and a train IZO of gears connecting said ratchet-disk with said valve.

Y 2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rotary coin-carrier; a valve; a rotary plate having a lug thereon; a pawl-plate provided with a lug and connected with said rotary plate; and means,as ratchetand-gear mechanisms, forming an operative connection between said pawl-plate and said valve, the said coin-carrier having a lever pivotally secured thereto with the end thereof adapted to be moved into the path of either of the aforesaid lugs.

3. In a device of the character described, the combinationwith arotary coin-carrier; of a valve; a rotary plate having alug thereon; a pawl-plate rigidly connected with said rotary plate so as to move therewith as a unit, said pawl-plate having a lug thereon movable in a path different from the lug upon said rotary plate; means for adjusting the peripheral distance between said lugs, and rigidly securing the said plates togetherin such adjustable positions; means actuated by said coin-carrier for actuating said rotary plate; and means for operating said valve from said pawl-plate, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a rotary carrier; of a valve; a rotary plate having a lug thereon a pawl-plate having a separable connection with said rotary plate and having a lug thereon movable in a path different from that of the lug upon said rotary plate; means for operating said valve from said pawl-plate; and a lever movably connected with said coin-carrier and adapted to be shifted from the path of the lug upon the said rotary plate to that of the path of the lug upon said pawl-plate and vice versa.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a coin-carrier; of a rotary pawl-carrier; a rotary plate concentric thereto having a lug thereon; and separably 'secured to said pawl-carrier; a valve; means for operatively connecting said pawl-carrier with said valve; and a lever movably connected with said coin-carrier and adapted to be moved into the path of the lug upon said rotary plate whensaid coin-carrier is unloaded and to be shifted into the path of the lug upon said paWl-carrier when a coin has been inserted therein; all constructed and operating substantially as described.

6. The combination with a coin-carrier; of a rotary plate having a lug upon the periphery thereof and a concentric slot therethrough; of a pawl-plate having a lug thereon; a threaded connection between said plates, whereby the same may be adjusted circumferentially in relation to each other and when fastened move together as a unit; and a radially-movable connection between the said coin-carrier and said rotary plate actuated by the insertion of a coin into the coin-carrier.

7. The combination with the rotary plate having a lug projecting from the periphery thereof ;and a'pawl-plate separably secured to said rotary plate and having a radial arm with a laterally-projecting lug thereon movable in. the same vertical plane as the lug upon said rotary plate; all constructed and operating substantially as described.

8. In a device of the character descri-bed, the combination with a rotary coin-carrier; of a connecting-lever mounted on said coincarrier; a rotary plate having a lug thereon; a pawl-plate separably secured thereto; and a stop-lever yieldingly secured in the path of the lug upon the said pawl-plate; all constructed and operating substantially as described.

9. The combination with acoin-drum having a ilange thereon with a radial open throat therethrough; of a coin carrier rotatably mounted within said coin-drum and having a radial coin-chamber therein which registers withvthe coin-slot through the face of said drum; a connecting-lever pivotally secured to said coin-carrier and movable in aplane parallel with said coin-chamber with one end thereof projecting beyond the end of said coincarrier; a spring-lever having a link connection with said connecting-lever, movably secured to said coin-carrier and havinga laterally-projecting arm which passes through said coin-chamber and is engaged by a coin inserted therein. l

l0. The combination with a coin-drum 36 having a radial coin-slot 40 through the face thereof and provided with a circular ange 37 having an open throat 3S therethrough; of a coin-carrier rotatably mounted within said coin-drum and having a radial body member 45 provided with a coin-chamber 7l therein; a connecting-lever 46 and a spring-lever 47 pivotally secured to said body member and movable in a plane parallel to said coin-chamber, said spring-lever having an arm 48 projecting laterally through said body member and said coin-chamber; and a link 5l connecting the aforesaid levers; all constructed and operating substantially as described.

1l. In a device of the character described, the combination with a coin-drum having a radial slot therethrough; of a coin-carrier rotatably mounted within said coin-drum and having a coin-chamber therein; a stop adapted to limit the movement of said coin-carrier in one direction when the said coin-chamber is in register with said coin-slot; of a rotary plate having a lug thereon; a pawl-plate having a lug thereon and separably secured to IIO said rotary plate; a lever movably connected with said coin-carrier and so arranged that when said coin-chamber is empty the said lever will move in the path of the lug upon said rotary plate and when a coin is within said coin-chamber, said lever will move in the path of the lug upon said pawl-plate.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with a coin-drum having a radial coin-slot therethrough; of a coin-carrier rotatably mounted within said coin-drum and having a coin-chamber therein; of a stop adapted to limit the movement of said coincarrier in one direction when said coin-chamber is in register with said coin-slot; a rotary plate having a lug thereon; a pawl-plate having a lug thereon and separably secured to said rotary plate; a lever movably secured to said coin-carrier and actuated by the insertion of a coin within said coin-chamber; and means for preventing the ret-urn of the said coin-carrier to a position where it will register with the said coin-slot after a partial rotation has been imparted thereto, said means comprising a yieldingly-movable lever in the path of said movable lever on said coin-carrier.

13. The combination with a coin-drum; of a coin-carrier rotatably mounted within said coin-drum; a valve; means for operating said valve from said coin-carrier if the said coincarrieris loaded and moved in one direction; and means for preventing the operation of said valve after a predetermined number of successive operations, said means comprising a pivotally-mouuted lever normally held out of the path of movement of said coin-carrier; a rotary stop-pin actuated through the said means for operating said valve which stoppin during its rotation engages said lever and moves the same through an aperture iu said coin-drum into the path of said coin-carrier and thereby prevents rotation thereof, all constructed and operating substantially as described.

14C. The combination with a valve; of means for actuating the same, said means comprising a rotary valve-disk having a single tooth thereon; a rotary valve-lever mounted upon aroclvshaft and havinga notch therein,which is adapted to be engaged by the said tooth and to positively rotate said valve-lever in either direction; a rock arm between said rock-shaft and said valve; a rotary spindle actuated by coin mechanism and having a gear fixed thereon; and au epicycloidal-geartrain connection between said gear and valvedisk, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN A. REEVES.

lVitnesses:

GEORGE E. HALL, J. P. DEJON. 

